Disneynature to Donate Portion of Opening-Week Ticket Sales For “Bears” to The National Park Foundation

New Trailer Premiered on iTunes Yesterday; “Bears” Journeys into Theaters April 18, 2014, to Celebrate Earth Day

Disneynature shared plans this week surrounding its newest big-screen adventure “Bears,” which hits theaters April 18, 2014. The program SEE “BEARS,” PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS invites moviegoers to see the film during opening week (April 18-24, 2014) and Disneynature, via the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, will make a contribution to the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, to protect wildlife and wild places across America’s national park system. The new trailer for “Bears” is running in theaters and premiered on iTunes yesterday. Directed by Alastair Fothergill (“Earth,” “African Cats” and “Chimpanzee”) and Keith Scholey (“African Cats”), “Bears” showcases a year in the life of a bear family as two impressionable young cubs are taught life’s most important lessons against an incredible Alaskan backdrop.

“We can’t wait to share these bears’ fascinating behaviors and innate curiosity as they navigate a beautiful but challenging world,” said Alan Bergman, president of The Walt Disney Studios. “We are committed to protecting the environment and inspiring Disneynature fans to take part in conservation by joining forces with organizations like the National Park Foundation to preserve the natural world.”

From habitat protection and research to utilizing technology to protect park wildlife, the program contains a number of initiatives, all aimed to support the mission of the National Park Service, which turns 97 this month.

“America’s national parks are home to a vast and stunning array of wildlife, including approximately 400 endangered species,” said Neil Mulholland, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “We are proud to team with Disney, a dedicated supporter of our national parks, to invite moviegoers everywhere to join us as we work to ensure that our nation’s most treasured places, and all that they protect, thrive for generations to come.”

Advance tickets for groups of 20 or more will be available later this fall at 1-888-DISNEY6.

ABOUT THE MOVIE

In an epic story of breathtaking scale, Disneynature’s upcoming True Life Adventure “Bears” showcases a year in the life of a bear family as two impressionable young cubs are taught life’s most important lessons. Set against a majestic Alaskan backdrop teeming with life, their journey begins as winter comes to an end and the bears emerge from hibernation to face the bitter cold. The world outside is exciting—but risky—as the cubs’ playful descent down the mountain carries with it a looming threat of avalanches. As the season changes from spring to summer, the brown bears must work hard to find food—ultimately feasting at a plentiful salmon run—while staying safe from rival male bears and predators, including an ever-present wolf pack. “Bears” captures the fast-moving action and suspense of life in one of the planet’s last great wildernesses—Alaska!

Disneynature was launched in April 2008. Its mission is to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to share a wide variety of wildlife stories on the big screen in order to engage, inspire and educate theatrical audiences everywhere. Walt Disney was a pioneer in wildlife filmmaking, producing 13 True-Life Adventure motion pictures between 1948 and 1960, which earned eight Academy Awards®. The first four Disneynature films, “Earth,” “Oceans,” “African Cats” and “Chimpanzee,” are four of the top five highest overall grossing feature-length nature films to date, with “Chimpanzee” garnering a record-breaking opening weekend for the genre. Disney’s commitment to conservation is a key pillar of the label and Disneynature films empower the audience to help make a difference. Through donations tied to opening-week attendance for all four films, Disneynature, through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, has planted three million trees in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, established 40,000 acres of marine protected area in The Bahamas, protected 65,000 acres of savanna in Kenya, protected nearly 130,000 acres of wild chimpanzee habitat, educated 60,000 school children about chimpanzee conservation and cared for chimpanzees. For more information about Disneynature, like us on Facebook: facebook.com/Disneynature and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/Disneynature.

ABOUT DWCF

The Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund works to save species and habitats and to connect kids to nature to help develop lifelong conservation values. To date, DWCF has granted more than $20 million to support conservation programs in 112 countries. DWCF is a Disney initiative to conserve nature for future generations and is not a US 501(c)(3) public charity. More information about DWCF's efforts for wildlife, wild places and the people linked to their survival, is available at www.disney.com/conservation.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION

The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, raises private funds that directly aid, support and enrich America’s more than 400 national parks and their programs. Chartered by Congress as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation plays a critical role in conservation and preservation efforts, establishing national parks as powerful learning environments, and giving all audiences an equal and abundant opportunity to experience, enjoy and support America’s treasured places. Join us at www.nationalparks.org, on Facebook at facebook.com/nationalpark, and on Twitter at twitter.com/goparks. Information concerning National Park Foundation can be obtained, without cost, by writing to National Park Foundation, 1201 Eye Street NW, Washington D.C. 20005.